392 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA, 
[chap. 
regions, be very roomy, and of a very beautiful shape. The 
dogs strongly resemble the Eskimo dogs in Greenland, which 
are also used as draught animals. 
Most of the natives who have come into close contact with the 
Russians are said to profess the Christian religion. That many 
heathen customs, however, still adhere to them is shown, among 
FISHING BOATS ON THE OB. 
(After a Photograph.) 
other things, by the following incident: At a sinwvie where we 
landed for some hours on the 16th Sept, we found, as is common, 
a burying-place in the forest near the dwelling houses. The 
corpses were placed in large coffins above ground, at which 
almost always a cross was erected. In one of the crosses a 
sacred picture was inserted, which must be considered a further 
